Antislap piston ring



L27/re? for.'

B. w. TRAYLOR ANTISLAP PISTQN RING Filed Aug 25 v1924 Oct. '20, 1.925*- atented Oct. 20, 1925.,

4-iJNrrsn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRUCE W. TRAYLOR, 01E` PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ANTISLAP PIsToN RING.

Application sied august 2s, 1924.l serial No'. 733,805.

My present invention relates toa pistonl ring which will prevent the slap and rattle common to pistons, particularly of the in'- ternal combustion engine type, once the pisf ton has become worn.

The principal object of the invention is the provision' of a ring which will be positive in its action and which will automatically y now in use in'sueh engines, without exten-v sive change to the pistons.

It is lwell known, particularly with pistons in internal combustion engines where the cylinders are arranged vertically or at an angle to the-horizon`tal, that when the piston or the cylinder wall become worn so that there is play between the piston and the cylinder wall, a slap occurs which .is caused by slight movement of the piston 1n a direction at right angles to the axis of the wrist pin. This slap makes itself known by a distinct knock or pounding, which is not only annoying, but is decidedly detrimental to the engine itself.

Various forms of piston rings have been devised to overcome this slap by causing said piston rings to press outwardly againstthe cylinder wall, but due to the fact that asl soon as the rings themselves wear theyV are no longer in contact at their rear face with the piston itself, a slap is allowed to'occur between the piston and the ring, and the remedy thus applied is ineffective. l

My invention therefore, is aimed to overcome the defects caused by the wear of the piston or the cylinder wall, as above mentioned, and contemplates the use of'a piston ring .mounted in grooves distinct and apart' from those rordinarily providedfor `the presyisur'e'rings.l These piston rings are mounted "eccentric'ally with the vertical axis :of the piston, although the outer surface of vmy piston ring'comprises a part of a cylindrical surface. This piston'riiig comprises a ring having a thick portion `which tapers u'niformly down to a thinner portion. A groove is provided in the piston to form a seat for said ring, of a similar form, that is, the thickened portion of the ring fits in the ta'- pered portion of the groove and the groove extends around the piston of a depth ydecreasingly constantly as the thickness of the cylinder and the ring are substantially flush. l'Vhere it is desired to make the ring in one .ring decreases so that the surfaces of the piece, the inner surface thereof takes the form of a spiral, the outer face being cylindrical. It is usually desirable, however, that thegring be formed of complementary and similar partsprovided with means at their thick' ends for separating said ends. In as much as the only separation of the ends evident that the diameter of the piston including the ring 'at any point of the ring,

increases constantly. In this way, as the piston or astlie cylinder wall wears, the

ring, under the influence -of its separating which can take place with the piston and 'the' piston ring. in the cylinder, is to slide in the groove in which it is seated, it will bev means, increases the diameter of the piston tov compensate for this wear and thus maintains a tight fit in the cylinder bore. mI have illustrated' in the accompanying drawings a preferred form of the invention and a modified form, although I do not wish to be limited thereto, asthese forms simply illustrate the principle involved.

Figure 1 is a sectional plan view along the line l-l of Fig. 2, illustrating l011e form of the invention. Y

Fig'. 2 is a sectional side elevation through the center of the wrist pin bearing, ofthe piston embodying my invention.-

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan along the line '3 3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation of a piston showing a piston rin heavier than that illustrated in Figs. 1 an 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of apiston embodying a modified form of ring.

gig.I 6 1s a detail of the ring of Figs. 1 an 2.

In the drawings I havefillustrated l the tinuous channel or groove around-the piston, beginning at a point directly over the axis of' the wrist'pin bore. This groove is of constantlyV decreasing dept-h, the bottom of the groove, however, maintaining av cylindrical form, which thus causes the bottomof the groove or channel to be eccentric to the axis of the piston itself. lVithin this Agroove I place a two-part piston ring shown at 5 'alid having a thickened portion, eachprovlded with sockets 6 within which `is seated a springI 7, which thus tends to separate the ends of the complementary parts' and 5a. Each o-f the complementary arts of the iston ring is formed so that its thicknessvconstantly decreases, its outer and inner face .maintaining a cylindrical form. The thinner ends of the parts 5 and 5a are slightly separated in order to allow the two parts to4 slip-peripherallyin the groove within lwhich they are seated. I have found it ldesirable to provide two springs 7 each one supplementing the work of the other. It is also desirable to providev a pin 8 secured inthe piston wall and ex .tending between the separated ends of they parts 5 and 5a, which pin prevents accidental displacement. It will be very clear that as the cylinder wall ofl the piston Wears, l

- equal to the wear. It is also quite evident .that by `suliciently separating the thinner ends ofthe. composite ring, this action may continue until/the ring itself is worn out.

By referring to the form shown in Figs.'

1 and 2, it will be noted that in cutting the groove for the composite ring, the piston wall has been weakened or made thinneron one side than on the other: It may, therefore, be desirable to build up the inner surface of the piston to an extent to compensate for this circumstance. vSuch a modiiication is shown in Figs. 3 and 4p By referring to this form it will be noted 'that the complementary parts 5* and 5c are of a thickness at their large end greater than the normal thickness of the piston'wall. 'This is sometimes desirable as such a ring will not only Figs. 8 and 4 is identical with that in Figs. 1

vand 2, with the exception vas above noted vthat the increase in diameter dueto movement under action of its spring 7, is greater than in the before-mentioned form.

It is entirely possible to construct a ring in but a single piece 'having its outer surface bottom, of the groove forming a spiral.- This is illustrated in Fig. 5, in which a channel or groove is cut into the wall of the piston of spiral form, that is the base or bottom of the groove forming a spiral.`

As before, the thickened end 10 of the ring; 11 is seated in the tapered portion of the groove and :both groove and yring decrease in depth and thickness correspondingly throughout. In ,thisv formthe spring seated in a socket in the thickened endflO of the ring 11 as before, the opposite end of the spring being placed within a socket 12 in theshoulder formed .in the piston itself. The action 'of the ring 11 is identical with that oflthe other forms.

It will be quite evident that due to the fact that any and all positions of my piston i ring are such that a wedge action is secured, and that the back of the ring is alwa s in surface 'contact with the bottom .o the groove within whichit is seated and the cylinder wall, there can be no rattle or slap or side movement of any kind between the piston and the lcylinder wall within which it reciprocates. This is essential.

Both ring and piston vmay be made of any desired materials consistent with the -use to which the piston is to be put and I place no limitation upon said materials.

Having thus described my invention, what posite, a. piston ring of decreasing thickness 1 seated inl said groove, and means to cause molvement ofsaid ring in said groove and in a direction around the piston, the back of said ring maintaining surface contact with the bottomof said groove.v l

3. In combination, a piston provided with a peripheral groove of decreasing. depth, a wedge-'shaped ring seated therein, and means to cause movement of said ring around the I piston in `said groove.

.110 depth v oint to a point diametrically op- 4. In combination, a piston provided with i a peripheral groove of decreasing depth, a piston ring mountedin said oove of correspondingly decreasing thic ness, and a spring exerting pressure uponsaid ring tending to move said ring around the piston in said groove. y

5. In combination, a piston provided with a peripheral groove, the bottom of said groove being eccentric to the axis of the piston, a Wed e shaped ring mounted in said groove, an means to increase the combined thickness of ring and piston at any point on the ring circumferentially moving said ring 1n sai groove.

6. In combination, a piston provided with an eccentric groove, a yspllit tapered 'ring therein contacting with t e bottom of the groove having its ends separated, and means to cause the separated ends to approach each other.

7. In combination, a piston provided with an eccentric groove, a split ring mounted therein, the back of Isaid ring maintaining surface contact with the bottom of said groove.

8. In combination, a. piston having a perifpheral groove of decreasing depth, a ring o correspondinglydecreasin thickness mounted therein, the back o said ring ing with the decreasing depth of the groove,

and a spring engaging its thickened end and exerting pressure thereon to cause movement of the ring around the piston in the groove.

10. As a'neW article ofy manufacture, a two-part piston ring having a cylindrical inner and outer face, the inner faceof the omposite ring being eccentric to the outer ace.'

11. As a new article of manufacture, a. composite split ring of constantly decreas'' ing thickness, a socket in each of the thick ends, andv aspring held in said socket.

v.12.'As a new article of manufacture, a composite piston ring comprising similar complementary parts', the composite outer and inner faces of which comprlse cylindrical surfaces, the inner face thereof being eccentric to the outer face.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signa ture. i 

